Recap: Week 8

Inter-Conference Games
5-4, Funk Coalition vs The Poobic Heirs
8-1, Fat Jubas vs Pooh Bears
8-1, Chunky Monkeys vs Human Amoebas
7-2, Rhythm Drive vs Phanatics

Conference Games
6-3, Buffy vs Sour Snails
5-4, Squirtle Squad vs MoRRie's Pogiboys
(statistics)

5-4, Funk Coalition vs The Poobic Heirs
Is there life after Melo? Apparently there might be as the Funk pulled off a convincing win against the Poobic Heirs -- ratcheting up 634 PTS and 49 3PT in the process. It was a team effort as Rafer Alston, Earl Boykins and TJ Ford took advantage of higher profile teammates' injuries to post good weeks. The big man on campus for Funk was Mehmet Okur, who put up averages of 22 PTS, 8.5 REB and 3 3PT for the week.

The Heirs drop to 4-4 and lose Yao for a few weeks, which could prove to be problematic. The rest of the team is just doing so-so and it looks like Kobe's going to have to step up his game to replace Ming's numbers. One player who is still as steady as ever for Oliver is Caron Butler, who sported an average of 27.6 PTS, 10 REB and 2.3 STL for the week. Damn, too bad he's not still a Laker eh?

8-1, Fat Jubas vs Pooh Bears
What happens when the first place team from one division meets the fourth place team from the other division? Beat down. The Bears got rocked and were left without any honey or any wits. The Bears almost won 3PT (lost by one) but aside from turnovers, they were apathetic, ineffective, and just ick. Point guard Mike Bibby hasn't been able to shoot all season long, AK47 is still misfiring a bit, and right after we called Andre Miller and Brevin Knight the most underrated passing duo in the league, Brevin gets knocked up and Miller gets traded. Oh right, Peja's out for a few weeks too. Pau Gasol, it's showtime!

The Jubas are actually suffering from some injury woes of their own as Tracy McGrady has been sidelined -- as usual. Without him, the roster is still very solid, but not having that second star alongside the indomitable Dwayne Wade hurts. Of course, AI2 could fill that void very quickly (23.6 PTS, 7 AST, 2.33 STL, 1.33 3PT). With an emerging Al Jefferson and the still solid play of Josh Howard, Tony Parker, and Jermaine O'Neal, this team is still the cream of the crop -- possibly in both divisions?

8-1, Chunky Monkeys vs Human Amoebas
Another beat down for the West. The Monkeys annihilate the Amoebas this week. Granted, the Amoebas were facing a six game GP disadvantage (Q Richardson got hurt) so let's just write this week off as what it was okay? A blip on the radar for Eric-A. Kids, Ben Wallace is back -- with 3 STL and 2.66 BLK this week -- sort of -- only 7.3 REB. The more timely question is to figure out if Starvin Marvin Williams is for real or not -- he's been scoring, but not much else. We'll find out soon enough as he's been getting 30+ minutes a night.

The Monkeys didn't have a stellar week but who cares, they finally won a football championship! With a keeper roster that has sported unbelievable stars each and every year (Peyton, LDT, Shaun, LJ, TO, etc), they'd never reached the mountain top before. They finally did it this year and they are elated. A dominating win in basketball is just the cherry on top. It's time for us to address the madness that is Mo Williams. 25.6 PTS, 8.7 REB, 6.7 AST and 1.7 3PT for the week, and that's not really too crazy for him. He's one of only four players to average 15 points and 5 reb/ast on the season. This guy is Jason Kidd with a shot! The other young point guard on this team, Shaun Livingston, might never get this good, ever -- despite much more hoopla.

7-2, Rhythm Drive vs Phanatics
Someone's got to defend the honor of the East this week and who better than the bruising Rhythm Drive? They edged out the Phanatics by 8 PTS but really, when you're cruising in a blow out, do the points really matter? Reno's squad is still minus Chris Bosh but Mike Miller stepped up this week in his absence and took over early (24.25 PTS, 8 REB, 4.75 AST and a mind numbing 19 3PT). The Drive will need Miller to keep it up as nobody else on this team is capable of scoring like he can.

We already know what ails the Phanatics: injuries. Add two more to the list. Paul Pierce out for two weeks, and Marcus Camby out for his annual trip to Club Med. While this could open the door for Nene, with Pierce, Camby, Odom, and D West on the bench, this team will be hard pressed to win anything in the upcoming weeks. The good news is, well, um, Vince Carter's still healthy? Injuries are starting to effect every team, but the Phanatics may be the hardest hit of all.

6-3, Buffy vs Sour Snails
Despite a four game win streak and a surging month, Buffy could be headed for some rough waters. Top 3PT shooter JR Smith is still gone for another week or two, but worse than that, MVP candidate Rashard Lewis is down for the count for up to two months. That's like a whole bucketful of 3PT -- along with tons of other stats from Lewis. Then again, it's not like Chris Paul, Baron Davis, Joe Johnson, and Antawn Jamison (plus the definitely for real Eddy Curry) are anything to sneeze at. Buffy should contine to fight for top dog status in the West while waiting for the return of JR Smith. And hey, Andre Miller could make Chris Webber valuable again -- long shot, but possible.

The Snails aren't in a good place, but we've been saying that all season. Although a quick resolution to the Iverson situation is great, nagging injuries to Ron Artest, Wally Szcerbiak, and Jason Richardson continue to wreak havoc on this team. Nothing's worse than not knowing when, or if, your top players will play. In a bid to renovate his team, Trieu has placed 80% of his roster on the trading block. C'mon guys, it's a fantasy auction!

5-4, Squirtle Squad vs MoRRie's Pogiboys
Facing off against the behemoth of the East, one loss Squirtle Squad, the Pogiboys weren't given much of a chance. But we all know that MoRRie loves the holidays and with Christmas cheer behind him, he put up quite the fight before losing by just a few free throws. Still, this team is (finally) looking up. And look at that, the Pogiboys resurgence -- can it be a "re-" if there was no surging in the first place? -- is being led by Stephon Marbury (15.75 PTS and 7.5 AST) who isn't the best point guard in the league anymore *cough*cough* but is starting to drop some dimes. The new year could see the Pogiboys pick up some steam -- and cookies, and candy canes, and fuzzy red hats. MoRRie says "Happy Holidays!"

This might be the closest Squirtle comes to a loss for quite awhile. They're back at full strength with Ray Allen and Brandon Roy back and should only continue to get better. The one season ending injury here, Nenad Krstic, could hardly make that much of an impact and unless KG or Boozer take a dive, the Squirtles could go undefeated the rest of the way? Wait, let's not jinx them yet, this early in the season. On a side note, David Lee averaged 16.5 REB this week, over four games. I can't believe I didn't stay with this guy. He's like Rodman without the hair, the tattoos, the muscles, the crazy, or the melatonin. Give him back!